Week 10: From Grand Canyon to Joshua Tree National Park

By Caz | February 11, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read our Disclosure.

There’s something about the quiet repetitiveness of walking. It has an uncanny ability to harden yet soften you at the same time.

It hardens your physical body, your stamina and your resolve, yet it opens up a space for you to live more gently.

To contemplate and marvel.

It’s about simplifying, removing all distractions and disconnecting from things that matter.

Bright Angel Trail – Grand Canyon

All that matters is the scrunching of the gravel underneath your feet, the quiet rustle of the breeze, the awe inspiring natural surroundings and the funny conversations you can have with your children.

There’s no need to put off time with them for other demands. You can listen, learn more about them and of course answer all their curious questions as best you can.

As Savannah said to me,

“I love hearing the sound of walking over the trail.”

I love how she recognizes the tranquility and value of that already.

Her and Kalyra embraced the Junior Ranger programs this week both in the Grand Canyon and the Joshua Tree National Park. I love how this program engages kids to the experience they have with nature.

Through it they learn all about the flora and fauna, but more importantly how to value the National Park and why they should.

South Rim Grand Canyon

It warmed my heart to see them finding a rock to sit on and take in their surroundings using their five senses and record what they experienced, to go searching for animal tracks and to identify animals, and to wear their Junior Ranger badges with pride long after we left the park.

Sometimes I think it’s a little weird that we spend most of our days on this RV trip walking. One hike after the other.

But, it’s soul satisfying.

It’s a meditative practice that we’ve slipped into. Once you get into that rhythm it’s hard to snap back out of it. I don’t want to because within that space of walking, everything is perfect.

Why would you want to invite anything else but that into your life?

As we were watching the spectacular sunset in Joshua Tree National Park, I watched my girls soak it up and play at the same time.

sunset in Joshua Tree National Park

I”m so thankful they have the opportunity to be with nature in this way. They won’t realize yet the calming influence it has on their life.

I don’t think I was present with a sunset until I was in my twenties. I couldn’t believe the magic of it and since then I’ve seeked out that ritual wherever I can.

It’s insane how we let the chaos of our days distract us from 30 minutes each day to watch that sunset and give thanks for the joy that it brings us.

My girls have been involved in this practice with me since they were born. I hope they continue it.

I hope they forever understand how nature can bring them so much joy and peace and how easy it is to access it within the often utter confusion of life.

I’m grateful I get to spend this time with them and get to know their delightful personalities and strengths on a deeper level.

Nature is helping to turn them into fierce warriors wrapped in a gentle softness.

What gorgeous trees that can be seen throughout the National Park amongst the outcropping of rocks. The scenery is unique and spectacular.

We enjoyed a few short hikes: the Hidden Valley Trail, where cattle rustlers used to hide their stolen cattle, and the Barton Damn.

The sunset from Key Views was out of this world. I am so glad we decided at last minute to turn back form the really long Pinto Basin Drive to go here instead.

Following your gut takes you to your heart’s happiness.

If you want more real and personal connection, where we share the real story of how we unplug, how we manage the ups and downs, the sweet the funny, the strange and chaotic, than jump in my Notes from the Road virtual suitcase. Its like receiving letters from an old friend. Just click the following:SEND THEM MY WAY NOW!

RV and on the Road Lessons Learned

If you can help it, don’t leave your slides out to your RV during a snowstorm. As we were accessing Goldie while we were staying in the Yavapai Lodge, we had put our slides out and kept them out. What a hassle sweeping off all the snow that had gathered on top of them when it was time to leave. We couldn’t close them until it was all off.

It’s just not worth the risk of a potential pipe burst in the travel trailer. Once we saw the temperatures were going to dip into the teens and as low as 5F, we knew it was time to leave the Grand Canyon. We know Goldie can handle a low of 23 but we didn’t want to risk going lower and her breaking. We’d then be screwed without a home and a ruined America Unplugged RV trip. So we bailed out of there three days earlier.

The damn fridge is too big for our solar power to work!! I’m so peeved. There was a lovely electrician at Distant Drums RV Resort in Sedona who looked at our inverter that was not working. He let us know when we tried to run it off grid, it broke because of the fridge. So our solar installation was a waste of money. I’m super cranky with Camping World for not telling us this when we bought the Travel trailer and telling us we could use solar power. I’ll be taking this further with them. As it stands we can’t go off grid unless we get a generator. Add it to the list of things to repair. Goldie will be in hospital for a few days I think!

I don’t like leaving the van to stay in a hotel. I love the comfort and convenience of Goldie, our travel trailer. If felt quite lost when we escaped to a hotel room for three days in the Grand Canyon. I hated not being able to perform my morning routine properly – that is my own space for meditation, journaling with my tonic tea followed by a bullet proof coffee while the girls sleep in their own room. It’s hard to get them up moving of a morning so it was a late breakfast every morning. Usually we can all do it on our own time AND, eating out three meals a day sucks! I love it as we don’t have to clean anything, but our dietary restrictions make things challenging and it’s too expensive. Give me Goldie any day even with everything that is broken in her!

California fuel is expensive!! As soon as we crossed the border from Arizona to California the fuel went from $2.40 to $4.40. We put the car in reverse to fill her up in Arizona! That’s an insane price difference. The crowds have also returned. There are more people in California than my entire country of Australia, so you bet we’re noticing it.

Where we Stayed

Yavapai Lodge

We jumped out of Goldie for three nights to experience Yavapai Lodge. We wanted to see if it was a good option for you when you visit the Grand Canyon! Guess what? It is.

Even though I missed Goldie, I did like our stay at Yavapai Lodge. It’s a basic hotel room but the rooms were clean and comfortable – you won’t be in them much – and the service was excellent.

We really enjoyed the Yavapai Tavern in the main lobby area and ate there a couple of nights and watched the Super Bowl. You can sit by the fire and use their lobby Wi-Fi.

They don’t have it in the rooms because Grand Canyon – go out and explore it.

It’s also centrally located between the Village and the Visitor Center. You could walk (or bike) to either (maybe a mile each way), but there is a shuttle stop here.

It’s also right next to the biggest general store in the park.

Pirate Cove Resort

Pirates Cove Resort is in the middle of the desert on the Colorado River. It’s spectacular scenery and perfect for those who love off-roading, atv adventures, camping and boating.

Pirates Cove is set up for summer fun with its outdoor adventures and river beach. Sadly, it was too cold for us to really enjoy it and it was very quiet.

Although we left on the day an event was starting for the weekend that was going to attract 1,200 people!!

This RV resort is massive. Our camp site was isolated and two miles away from the main area where the restaurants are. It was so pretty and peaceful.

I loved watching the sunrise over the river early each morning. It was fantastic to stay by the Colorado River after seeing the masterpiece it carved up in the Grand Canyon.

The Colorado River is the border between Arizona and Colorado. It’s also the time zone change from Mountain to Pacific. I loved rising early and having an early sunrise and sunset.

Twentynine Palms RV Resort

This is a nice RV resort just outside the Joshua Tree National Park. There are loads of amenities including a really warm indoor pool, sauna and fitness center.

Distance Driven

Travel Costs

Each week, I include our travel related costs for the week.

I don’t include things like business costs, insurance, and souvenirs etc. That’s so personal that whatever I told you wouldn’t necessarily be true for you and your budget.

The following, apart from perhaps our groceries, will give you a reasonable estimate of costs related to travel.

Vehicle Costs

Fuel: $ 163

Accommodation Costs

Camping: $ 116 (2 nights @ $58)

Pirate Cove was $189, and Yavapai Lodge approx $360 – Our stay was hosted at both of these.

Attractions

Park Fees: $0

Tips:

We have a National Parks Pass ($80) which gives us unlimited entry to federal lands.

Food

Restaurants: $477

Coffee: $40 (does include some treats/ hot chocolate for girls)

Groceries: $ 150

Take out/ snacks: $ 116

Alcohol: $30

We eat a mostly whole foods, organic diet, which means our grocery bills are higher than what would be typical.

Don’t forget with eating out costs, tip will be included in the prices below.

RV Supplies and Living

Laundry: $10

Firewood: $

Propane: $30

Total paid by us: $ 1132

As you can see staying in a hotel really increased our eating out and coffee costs, but really reduced our groceries!!

If you are new to our weekly wrap, our costs each week are usually around $1,000 – $1,300. We’re really trying to stay under $1,000 a week.

Where to Next?

Continuing a normal pattern for us, we’re not quite sure where too next!! We’re still figuring it out. It could be Palm Springs. It could be Las Vegas. It could be LA.

It could be anywhere.

We’re due to leave TwentyNine Palms tomorrow so follow along on Instagram to see where we end up!

Videos of the trip coming out soon. Check out our US RV Road Trip Playlist!

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About Caz

Caroline Makepeace is the co-founder of yTravel Blog. She loves helping people unplug from the chaos, follow their bliss, travel more and create better memories. She has a free travel planning toolkit to help you do just that!

Caz is the flighty Libran, bringing harmony to the family through crystals, meditation, and downward dogs (and the odd glass of wine at 5pm). It's all about the balance, right? Follow her on Instagram.

Questions & Comments

I think this is a beautiful thing you did for the family. Brings back memories when I was at Summer camp back in the mid 1980’s. Though I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, it’s good to see and know you took some really, realistic, fantastic photos up close and personal Robin Leach style. I’d love to know what kind of camera works wonders to produce such quality photos like that. 🙂